Fine Dust Partially From North Korea: Minister

South Korea's environment minister said Monday some fine dust particles that blanketed most of the South last week came from North Korea.

Minister Cho Myung-rae told the National Assembly he believes North Korea is one of the many causes for fine dust coming into South Korea.

Cho made the remarks replying to a question from an opposition lawmaker during a meeting of the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee.

"There are several reasons for the inflows of fine dust, but I believe some of the dust particles came from North Korea during times of their heavy concentrations (in South Korea)," said Cho, answering a question from Rep. Lee Jang-woo of the Liberty Korea Party.

Lee had asked Cho about the cause of high levels of fine dust in pristine areas in Jeju, Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces early this month.

In the first seven days of March, most of South Korea, including Seoul, was hit by heavy concentrations of ultrafine particles that were about six times higher than the maximum density recommended by the World Health Organization.

South Korea's state-run laboratories have argued pollutants from China are responsible for 50 to 70 percent of fine dust pollution here, though the Beijing government has repeatedly denied any responsibility.

President Moon Jae-in has recently ordered his government to work together with China to fight fine dust pollution.

It is the first time for Seoul's Cabinet minister to officially blame North Korea for the problem of fine dust pollution in...